Loader



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4170mm! rs tats United My invention relates generally to improvements inloaders of the tractor mounted or self-propelled type and capable notonly of raising a load to a high elevation but also of manipulating theload carrier so that many kinds of materials, depending upon the type ofload carrier with which the loader is equipped, may be handled to greatadvantage. Buckets and forks are most commonly used as the load carriersbut many other special carriers such as cranes, masonry and lumber orlog carriers, concrete hoppers and platforms for the workers themselves,etc., may also be used.

The primary object of my present invention is to improve this class ofloaders, particularly providing a loader which will raise the load to avery considerable elevation, and to make clear the advantages of theloader of my invention it will be described herein as used in thebuilding industry. In such work it has been the custom heretofore toelevate lumber, steel, concrete blocks, bricks and other materials goinginto construction of the building, up to the second and succeedingfloors by means of some form of Windlass or hoist mechanism, this beinga slow and laborious operation as well known. By the use of the loaderof my invention, however, stacks of lumber, structural steel, blocks,bricks and the like may be picked up from storage stacks on theconstruction site and may be elevated to second or third floors of thebuilding under construction and then thrust forwardly and deposited onthese floors where the material is needed, all with a very substantialsaving in time and work consumed in the process. It is, accordingly,another important object of my invention to provide a loader in whichthe load carrier may be moved from a loading position at ground levelupward slightly to a transport position for travel toward the buildingand then may be swung upwardly to the necessary height and finallythrust forwardly a substantial further distance to deposit the load inthe desired location. For the latter purpose the booms which support theload carrier are themselves carried upon the tractor or vehicle frame bymeans of forwardly-rearwardly swingable or translatable supports whichmay be hydraulically actuated in order to move the carrier in alongitudinal direction for a substantial distance with respect to theload carrier. Another object is to provide a loader having linkage soconstructed and arranged that the weight of the load is at all times inand above the zone of the traction wheels of the tractor or othercarrier for the loader and in which counterbalancing is provided in suchfashion that the load weight-to-counterbalancing weight ratio isadvantageous. Another object is to provide linkage and operatingmechanism which will permit the load to be thrust forwardly with areaching action at any elevation of the load and so that the carrier maybe reached forward over intervening materials for loading, thus makingthe machine convenient and extremely versatile in its operation. Anotherobject of my invention is to provide automatic leveling means by whichthe load carrier may be maintained at a desired level or tilt as it israised and lowered and which may also be hydraulically actuated at anyelevated position of the carrier to positively tilt the same as may bedesired. It is to be noted that all of these movements of the loadcarrier may be carried out without moving the tractor or vehicle itselfand this is fre quently a very desirable feature. For example, whenworking adjacent to the wall of a building under construction, thetractor may find good footing at one position atent 3,070,244 PatentedDec. 25, 1-962 ice from which the load may then be manipulated asnecessary without danger of tilt or sway induced by movements FIG. 1 isa side elevation of a loader according to my invention showing a loadcarrier thereon and in its lowered position.

FIG. 2 is another side elevation but on a smaller scale, and showing theload carrier elevated some distance and illustrating the manner in whichthe leveling or tilting mechanism maintains the carrier in its properposition as it is raised and lowered.

FIG. 3 is still another side elevation, on a smaller scale than FIG. 2,showing the load carrier elevated still further but particularlyillustrating the forward reaching action of the mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, along the line 44 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a further reduced side elevational view, from the opposit sideof the loader showing the load carrier. raised still further andprojected forward to reach over the edge of a building structure anddeposit a load thereon.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged sectional detail and elevational view onthe line 66 in FIG. 5 showing slip-on shield and fork structure forcarrying special loads such as material originally piled upon pallets.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a somewhat modified form of loader, viewedfrom the same side as FIG. 5 but on a" larger scale, and having aswingable counterweight and log or heavy lumber holding forks andclamps.

FIG. 8 is an opposite side view, on a somewhat reduced scale of theloader of FIG. 7 showing the load carrier thrust or reached forwardlyand with a compensating movement of the swingable counterweight.

FIG. 9 is a still further reduced view of the loader of FIGS. 7 and 8with the load carrier elevated.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary detail rear elevational view of the swingingcounterweight of the loader of FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forepart of the boomarms and associated components of loaders of the general types earliershown herein but showing a tower-type of load carrier applied theretofor achieving greater elevation of the load wherever this may bedesired.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective of the forked tilting link usablewith the tower-type of load carrier or other load cariers whereverdesired.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to thedrawing, I have illustrated my improved loader as mounted upon aself-propelled frame A having spaced apart large traction wheels B atthe front and.

rearwardly located, smaller dirigible wheels C. An engine is mounted onthe frameA within the hood and housing D and an operators station E islocated alongside themid-portion thereof, including a seat F and asteering wheel G for steering the wheels C. A source of fluid underpressure is provided within a housing H at the rear of the frame andconventionally includes a suitable pump powered by the said engine, areservoir and related components. Since these are all well known in theart they are not shown and will not be described in detail herein. Whilethis self-propelled vehicular support for the loader may be of anyspecial construction and design, it may advantageously be built up froman ordinary industrial tractor, modified to increase its Wheel base andso that its traction wheels 13 are at the front, but this too beingrather common in the load industry the necessary changes intransmission, stearing and other components will not be detailed herein.

Suflice it to bring out that for my purpose the frame A, in addition tothe chassis of the tractor itself, includes longitudinally extendingsills or side bars -11 rigidly mounted and heavily braced to carry theweight and resist the twisting forces of the loader and its carriedload. The mounting and bracing of these side bars 10-11, as they willhereinafter be called, is carried out in accordance with modern dayfabrication methods for heavy machinery of this kind.

Also at the rear of the frame there is provided a counterweightdesignated generally at 12 and the Weight of the housing H and its fluidtank, pump, etc., will add to the overall counterweight effect.

The load carrier 13 of my invention as shown in FIGS. 1-6 includes anupright back structure 14 from which transversely spaced forks 15project forwardly, but as will be presently set forth this carrier mayvary according to the work to be done and the maximum elevation of thework which is desired.

The load carrier 13 is carried on the forward ends of transverselyspaced booms 16-17 preferably made up from heavy steel tubing andrigidly cross connected to operate as a unit by a plurality of crosstubes and trusses in accordance with usual good practice in machines ofthis kind. In line with present fabrication procedures these componentsare welded together but here, as in the case of other parts to besimilarly secured to each other, the welds will not here be designatedby reference numerals. The booms 16-17 are bent at a slight angle at 18adjacent their rear ends so that, with the load carrier 13 lowered as inFIG. 1, the main forward portions of the booms will angle downwardly andforwardly within the traction wheels B clearing the axle therebetween,while the shorter rear portions of the booms will extend almosthorizontally in the rearward direction. At their forward ends the booms16-17 are pivoted by heavy pivots 19 to suitable lugs 20 secured to andrearwardly extending from the lower edge of the back structure 14 of theload carrier 13. In most instances the rear ends of the booms would thenbe pivoted about some fixed axis on the tractor or vehicular frame A butin accordance with my invention I pivot these ends of my booms 16-17 ona transverse axis at 21 to the upper ends of forwardly-rearwardlyswingable boom supports or links 22-23 the lower ends of which arepivoted at 24 to heavy brackets 25 welded to and slung from the sidebars 10-11 of the frame A, at points between the wheels B and C. Theseboom supports or carriers 22-23 are rigidly connected at their upperends to operate as a unit and are positioned about said pivots 24 bytranslating or reach rams 26-27 the cylinders of which are pivoted atrear ends at 28 to brackets 29 on the rear corners of the frame A. Thefluid reciprocated piston rods 30 of these rams 26-27 extend forwardlyand are pivoted at their ends at 31 to lugs 32 secured on the said boomsupports some distance above the lower ends thereof. Thus it will beunderstood that the admission of fluid to the rams 26-27 to projecttheir piston rods 30 forwardly will swing the supports 22-23 forwardly,and vice-versa. The rear pivot 21 for the booms 16-17 may thus be heldin one position or may be translated or moved forwardly and rearwardlyto impart a reaching action to the booms with respect to frame A. Thesupports 22-23 are rigidly cross connected near their upper ends as by across tube 33 (FIG. 1) and additional stiffening of the links isprovided by the trusses or ribs 33 The booms 16-17 are swung upwardlyand downwardly at their forward ends by elongated lift rams 35- 36located forwardly of the boom supports 22-23 and at their lower endsthese rams 35-36 are pivoted on a common transverse axis at 37 to thebrackets 25 or, as here shown, to the connected ends of links 38-39which are pivoted in upwardly diverging relationship to brackets 40 onlower ends of the rams 35-36 and to brackets 41 on the frame sides10-11. These rams 35-36 have elongated piston rods 42 extending upwardlybeneath the booms and pivoted at 43 thereto between heavy gussets orwebs 44- welded to the undersides of the booms below the bends 18therein. Upward projection of the piston rods 42 by proper admission offluid under pressure to the rams 35-36 will thus swing the booms upwardabout the pivot 21 and vice-versa. Stiffening at the load pointsrepresented where the lift forces are applied is provided by tensionedstruts or reinforcing trusses 45 secured to the upper sides of the booms16-17 as clearly shown. Actually the forwardmost links 39 haveupwardly-rearwardly angled lugs 39 which are pivoted at 39 to the rearlinks 38 for proper action.

The load carrier 13 is tilted forwardly or rearwardly about its pivotconnections 19 to the booms 16-17 by fluid actuated tilting or levelinglinkage next to be described. Lugs 46 are welded to and projectrearwardly from the aforesaid back structure 14 of the load carrier andpivoted on transverse axes by pins 47 to these lugs are front links48-49 (FIG. 4) extending rearwardly above the forward portions of thebooms. The rear ends of these links 48-49 converge at 50 (also FIG. 4)and are secured to a cross head 51 at the ends of which are rollers 52running in parallel guides or tracks 53 rigidly secured to and carriedbetween forward end portions of the booms 16-17 by front and rear crosstubes or members 54-55.

A heavy tubular rocker rock shaft 56 is carried between upper ends ofthe supports 22-23 coaxially with the pivot 21 and upon the pin or tubejoining the supports to form said pivot. Centrally of this rocker 56 abifurcated lever 57 is rigidly afllxed and secured against lateraldisplacement by a brace 58. A rear actuating link 59 is pivoted at itsrear end at 60 to the upper end of the lever 57, extends forwardlytherefrom to the aforesaid crosshead 51 with a pivot connection 61 (FIG.4) between the link and the crosshead. It will be noted that thedistances between and relative angles of the front pivot axes 19-47 andrear pivot axes 21-60 is substantially the same, constituting a parallelmotion linkage to retain the load carrier 13 at the proper angle withrespect to the booms 16-17 as they move upwardly and downwardly. Powertilting of the load carrier 13 is, however, provided by a tilting ram 62pivoted at its lower end at 63 to one of said frame sides (here shown asthe side 10). Said ram 62 has an upwardly and normally rearwardlyangling extensible plunger 64 the upper end of which is bifurcated andpivoted at 65 to a heavy (and suitably angularly braced to the rocker56) actuator or rocker plate 66 the rear corner of which is rigidlysecured or welded to the rocker 56 near one end thereof. In the positionshown in FIG. 1 the tilting ram 62 is obscured by ram 35 and while hereonly a single tilting ram is shown, two may, of course, be used if sodesired.

In operation the load carrier 13 may be moved downward to bring theforks 15 to ground level as shown in FIG. 1 and with the carrier verynear the front traction wheels B, in which position the forks may bethrust beneath a palleted pile of lumber, blocks or other material (notshown) merely by moving the entire machine ahead as a unit. Or withouttravel movement of the machine and merely by the proper admission offluid under pressure to the translating or reach rams 26-27 the supports22-23 and lift rams 35-36 may be swung forwardly at their upper ends,with something approximating a parallel linkage motion, thrusting thebooms 16-17 and the associated load carrier forwardly and moving theforks 15 beneath the load to be raised. The footing or characteristicsof the surface on which the machine must travel, and surrounding stacksof material which may limit room for maneuvering, may determine whichaction to take in order to bring the load carrier into proper liftingassociation with the load. In any event, as the load is engaged it maythen be raised to a transport position clear of the ground by admittingfluid to the lifting rams 35-36 to swing the booms 16-17 upward atforward ends about their rear end pviot 21 to elevate the load carrier13 and the load, whatever it may be so that the machine may be movedabout as necessary for example to transport material from a storagespace to .the building under construction, assuming the loader to beused for this purpose. Note FIG. 2 in which the load has been raised toan elevation above the ground sufiicient to clear the view of theoperator, although this much lift may not be necessary for transport inmany instances. In FIG. 2 also the rams 26-27 have been extended toreach the booms 16-17 forwardly with respect to their positions ofFIG. 1. By comparison in FIG. 3 this reaching action has gone evenfurther, the booms 16-17 moving far forward and the supports 22-23 andthe upright rams all swung forwardly at their upper ends. In thisposition the load carrier 13 may even be thrust forwardly over anintervening pile of material, then lowered and raised again with a loadof material taken from the ground (or from pallets thereon) from aposition far forward of the vehicular frame or tractor, as will beapparent, and reversing this operation will enable the machine to pileand distribute material over a storage area with a maximum of ease andconvenience.

When it is desired to lift the load for deposit, say on an upper floor Iof a building I under construction (FIG. 5) or to an overhead rack orthe like, then the lifting rams 35-36 are further extended to swing thebooms 16-17 even higher about their rear end pivot axis 21 and as will'be readily'observed a quite high elevation may be obtained in thismanner. This elevation of the load may and preferably will beaccomplished with the reach rams 26-27 at least partly retracted so thatthe load when high off the ground and particularly with the supportingvehicle in motion will have its weight as close as possible over thezone of support represented by the traction wheels B. The counterweight12will then have maximum effect in counter-balancing the load forces inan upright plane lying in the direction of travel. But as the machineapproaches the side of the building I the load may be thrust forwardwith a reaching action by extending the rams 26-27 and swinging thesupports 22-23 (and the upright rams of course) in a forward directionso that even with the machine well clear of the building side the load L(FIG. 5) may be thrust forwardly over the floor I for deposit thereon inthe desired position and in a safe position at which it will not falloff the floor and back to ground. This reaching action is of particularbenefit in such work since the wheels B-C may rest onthe good footingclear of any fill or other soft material which so often is present onthe ground immediately adjacent the building.

In all positions of the load the carrier 13 may be tilted back to retainthe load in place or tilted forward to dump the load by proper supply offiuid to the ram 62 to extend or retract the plunger 64 thereof and thusoscillate the plate 66 and lever arm 60, and move the links 48, 49 and59 forwardly or rearwardly as the case may be. Also the linkage is soarranged that a self-leveling effect on the carrier 13 to hold it at anadjusted angle as it is raised or lowered will be present for the usualpurpose. It will be noted that the tilting linkage for the load carrierprojects but very little either above or below the booms -16-17 and inno position of the load does this linkage approach a condition at whichjackknifing might occur and lock the load assembly against adjustment bythe various rams. Inasmuch as the arrangement of the hydraulic linesleading to the various rams is not material the various lines andconduits are denoted collectively at 67 throughout the several views.

For the protection of the operator an overhead shield 68 is providedover the operators station E, said shield having heavy mesh screen toward off any falling materials.

As stated hereinbefore the load carrier employed with my loader may takevarious forms, according to the kind of material to be handled or thework to be done. The forked carrier 13 shown in FIGS. 1-5 will find manyapplications and may as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 be provided withadjustable stops 69 on the forks to carry banded stacks (not shown) ofbricks, blocks and the like in which case the back 14 of the carrier ispreferably enlarged by bolted on extensions and a heavy screen 70 isprovided to prevent injury by any parts or particles which may fall asthe carrier is tilted and moved from place to place; As shown in FIG. 6four forks 15 are used but fewer or more of the same may be readilyapplied as required. Slip-on hoppers (not shown) may be associated withthe forks for handling such materials as wet concrete while a sling orcrane (also not shown) may replace the carrier if long materials such asangle irons, heavy timbers, etc., are to be handled.

A loader of the same general kind as that heretofore described is shownin FIGS. 7-10, being particularly useful for very heavy work, shown asfitted with a load carrier suited for gripping and handling logs andheavy timbers and characterized in that it embodies a swingablecounterweight the position of which varies with the elevation andposition of the load, all as will be presently described. The basicvehicular structure or tractor A is essentially identical to thatheretofore described, including the large traction wheels B andrelatively smaller and rearwardly disposed steerable wheels C, and thechassis is fitted with the additional and suitable side sills or sidebars, again designated at 10 and 11. Here also the operators station Eis located alongside the hood D over the engine and includes a seat Fand steering wheel G. In this particular loader the booms 16 and 17 aresubstantially identical to those shown in the earlier described loaderand they are pivoted at their rear ends at 21 to the upper ends ofsupports or links 22-23, the lower ends of which are pivoted at 24 tobrackets 25 slung from the aforesaid side bars 10-11. Here also the liftrams 35-36 are located forwardly of the aforesaid supports 22-23 and arepivoted at lower end at 37 to the vehicular frame or tractor, but inthis instance directly to the aforesaid brackets 25 without the use' ofthe link structure 38-39 previously set forth. The upwardly extendingplungers 42 of the lifting rams 35-36 are pivoted at 43 to gussetsor'brackets 44 welded to the booms16-17 adjacent the points 18 at whichthese booms are bent as aforesaid and in this case also the booms arestiffened by the truss bars 45.

Inthis' particular loader the crosshead guided tilting linkage is notemployed and instead the forwardmost link or links 48 are pivoted at 49to the back structure 71 of a slightly different form of load carrierdesignated generally at 72; with this back structure again provided withheavy lower brackets 20 by which pivot connections 19 are made to theforward ends of the booms 16-17. Links 48 extendrearwardly above theplane of the forward end portions of the booms 16-17 and at rear endsare pivoted at 73 to side levers 74, the lower ends of which are pivotedat 75 to the adjacent booms. The pivots 73 also attach the forward endsof rear links 76, of which three are either one or two and whichcorrespond to the rear link 59 heretofore described. At the rear endsthe links 76 are pivoted at 77 to the upper forward corners of hellcrank plates 78 having lower forward corner extensions 79 pivoted aboutthe axis 21 in somewhat the manner previously set forth for the leverarm 57, with the lower rear corners of the bell crank plates 78 thenpivoted at 80 to the upper ends of plungers 81 of a pair of tilting rams82, one of which is located at each side of the machine. The tiltingrams 82 thus parallel the links 22-23 but are located rearwardly thereofand the'rams have lower end stirrup extensions 83 pivoted at 84 to theside bars 10-11 or to suitable bra'ckets-afiixed thereto, thus anchoringthese tilting rams to the frame structure of the supporting vehicle ortractor. Obviously then: the

extension of the plungers 81 of the rams 82 in synchronism will rock thebell crank plates 78 about the pivot axis 21 and project the links 75-48in a forward direction to forwardly tilt the load carrier 72 about thepivots 19, and vice-versa, but the relationship between the pivot axis21 and pivot 80 at the upper ends of this support and tilting assemblyand between the pivots 24 and 84 is such that a parallel motion effectwill be brought about to maintain the load carrier 72 in a levelposition or in any other position to which it may be adjusted about thepivots 19 as the load carrier is raised and lowered, by operation of thelift rams 35-36 in precisely the same manner as has heretofore been setforth.

As has been stated the load carrier 72 shown as associated with thisparticular embodiment of my loader is specifically designed for clampingand holding large numbers of logs and heavy timbers while they areraised and lowered or transported from place to place. For such purposethe load carrier 72 is again, like the aforesaid carrier 13, providedwith a plurality of forwardly extending forks 85 which may be slippedbeneath the material to be handled but in addition forwardly anddownwardly curving clamp members 86 are fulcrumed at 87 adjacent theupper portion of the back 71 of this carrier for upward movements awayfrom the forks 85 as the load is released for discharge, or for downwardmovements toward said forks to clamp the load of material into position.The members 86 have rearwardly extending ends 88 to which are attachedthe plungers 89 of rams 90 pivoted at 91 to the back 71 of the loadcarrier so that these members may be manipulated by the proper admissionof fluid to these rams to project or retract the plungers as will bereadily understood.

This particular form of my loader is also shown as provided with a veryheavy rectangular counterweight 92 having upward extensions or hangers93 by which it is pivoted at 94 to brackets 95 so that this weight willhang normally in the vertical position shown in FIG. 7 immediately tothe rear of the housing H forming part of the vehicular assembly A. Insuch position the weight 92 hangs between lateral guide lugs 96extending rearwardly from the side bars -11 to restrain the weightagainst lateral displacement such as might occur when the machine isoperated over irregular ground surfaces. In addition the weight 92 isprovided with upwardly converging arms 97, the upper extremitie of whichare pivoted at 98 to a link 99 normally angling downwardly and forwardlyto points 100 of pivotal attachment to a cross tube, corresponding tothe aforesaid tube 33, rigidly joining the supports or links 22-23. Thusthe arrangement is such that immediately as the support assembly, whichincludes the elements 22-23, is moved forwardly to project the booms16-17 with a reaching action in the forward direction (as seen in FIGS.8 and 9), the resulting pull on the link 99 will rock the counterweight92 about the aforesaid pivots 94 so that its lower end moves in anupward and rearward direction and its weight effectively movesrearwardly with respect to the wheels B and C. Thus in any elevatedposition of the load carrier the forward or reaching projection thereofwill result in a shifting in the weight 92 so that it will best and mostadvantageously support and counterbalance the weight of the load beingmanipulated, assuring full traction and floatation of the weight carriedby the wheels B and C.

In this particular form of the loader the aforesaid forward-rearwardmovements of the supports 22-23 is again accomplished by reach rams26-27 as heretofore described, there being one of such rams at each sideof the machine pivoted at 28 to brackets at the rear ends of the sidebars 10-11 and with projictable plungers 30 pivoted at 31 to brackets 32on the rear of the supports 22-23. In order, however, to obtain addedleverage the rams 26-27 in the normal position of the parts shown inFIG. 7 are inclined in an upward and forward 8 direction by contrastwith the substantially horizontal position of these rams in the loaderof FIGS. l-5.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 I show a modification of the front end of my loaderin which again appear the booms 16-17 but the load carrier designatedgenerally at 101 is essentially that of my prior Patent No. 2,394,458,issued February 6, 1946, for Load Handling Mechanism. This load carrieris thus what may be referred to as a telescopic tower-type including agznerally rectangular outer frame having upright side channels 102-103rigidly cross connected and carried at their lower ends by brackets 104and pivots 105 on the forward ends of the booms. An inner frame 106 iscarried for upward and downward movements between said side channels102- 103 by a plurality of rollers 107 and a load carrier frame 108 issimilarly carried for upward and downward movements between the sides ofthis inner frame 106, said carrier frame 108 having load engaging forks109 or such other load engaging elements as may be desired. An elevatorram 110 is supported at the center of this frame assembly upon a lowercross member 111 and has an upwardly projectable plunger 112 operativelyarranged to move the frames 106 and 109 upwardly to the extendedpositions shown and thus to elevate the load carried well above theforward ends of the booms 16-17 as will be understood, particularly byreading my earlier patent as to the details of the load carrier hereused. It will be apparent that a very high elevation of the load will bepossible by this arrangement.

The load carrier 101 is tilted and held in position by linkage similarto that shown in FzGS. 7-9, in this instance including but one sidelever 74 and one rear link 76. In this case the forward link 113 isbifurcated at 114 to fit over and pivot at 73 on the upper end of theside lever and the link 113 itself includes long, forwardly divergingsides 113 -113 the forward ends of which meet and are pivoted at 115 tobrackets 116 secured to the sides 102-103 of the frame 101 well abovethe pivots 105 to properly support and tilt the load carrier. Thisdiverging configuration of the forward tilting link provides adequatelateral support and minimum interference with the view of the operator,something to be particularly desired where the load is so high off theground.

It is to be noted that the reach rams of my loader, in all modificationsthereof, have an effect also in obtaining the maximum possible elevationof the load. For example in FIG. 9 it will be clear that when the loadis fully raised the reach rams 26-27 are extended to fulcrum the booms16-17 about their pivot connections 43 to the lift rams 35-36 to effecta still further raising of the forward ends of the booms. Note that inFIG. 8 the support 22 and lift ram 35 are substantially parallel whilein FIG. 9 these parts have assumed an upwardly converging relationship.This action makes possible the greatest elevation for a loader havingbooms, rams, etc., of a certain length as will be understood. Since thisaction of the rams 26-27 is brought into play only when the boomsapproach their greatest heights, the leverage is most favorable forachieving this desirable result.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in thestructure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within thespirit and scope of the appended claim. Having now therefore fullyillustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a loader of the character described, a vehicular frame havingrelatively large front traction wheels and smaller rear ground wheels, apair of elongated booms extending longitudinally over the frame andhaving a load carrier mounted at the front ends thereof in the area. ofthe traction wheels, means for raising and lowering the booms abouttheir rear ends for raising and lowering the carrier, said meanscomprising an upright boom support and an upright lifting ram havingtheir lower ends pivoted to the frame intermediate the front and rearground wheels and their upper ends pivoted to the booms, said liftingram being forward of the boom support, an extensible reach ram locatedto the rear of the boom support and connecting the boom support to arear portion of the frame, said boom support and lifting ram beingsubstantially parallel and angling upwardly and rearwardly when thecarrier is in lowered position whereby as the boo-ms are raised by thelifting jack and further raised by the reaching rams the boom supportwill swing over center retaining the load carrier over the zone oftraction of the front wheels, a counterweight pivoted to the rear end ofthe frame, said counterweight having an arm extending above its pivot,and a link connecting the boom support to the upper end of the armwhereby as the boom 15 support swings forwardly during raising of thecarrier the counterweight will be moved rearwardly about its pivot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSJackson June 10, 1902 Sjoberg June 29, 1920 Foley Sept. 30, 1938 BarrettJan. 2, 1945 West Oct. 1, 1946 Reese Feb. 9, 1954 Chambers et a1 Feb. 1,1955 Gerst Apr. 26, 1955 Tendresse Apr. 9, 1957 Lessmann Jan. 21, 1958FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden Aug. 15, 1950 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1953

